Finding a good Italian beef sandwich in the Chicago area certainly isn’t a bear, but with plenty of options to choose from, how can you find the best of the best?
A new ranking has picked the top spots in the city and beyond.
Bon Appétit named the top eight Italian beef sandwiches in the city and the burbs and, with season two of “The Bear” set to debut this week, there’s no better time to quench your thirst — unless you like your sandwich dry, that is.
The top places named in the ranking included:
Al’s Beef
Multiple locations
Al’s Beef opened in 1938 and is one of the oldest Italian beef spots in the city. This is one place where you can get nearly any variation of the sandwich: dry, dry with gravy on the side, wet, dipped and topped with your choice of hot giardiniera—you name it. What sets Al’s apart is an 85-year-old sandwich recipe and a beef-cooking technique that takes nearly 30 hours.
Scatchell’s
4700 W Cermak Rd, Cicero, IL
Johnnie’s Beef
7500 W North Ave, Elmwood Park, IL
Portillo’s
Multiple locations
Buona Beef
Multiple locations
Odge’s
730 N Damen Ave, Chicago
Budacki’s Drive In
4739 N Damen Ave, Chicago
Kasama
1001 N Winchester Ave, Chicago
If you like Italian Beefs then you probably already have a favorite spot. But you can always try out a new place!
